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Portus 2008

Day One and Two

By Toni Gras, HPFZ Reporter

Harry Potter Educational Fanon (HPEF) has produced another FAN-tastic conference for Harry Potter adult fans! At the Hilton Anatole which overlooks the commanding Dallas, Texas skyline, Harry Potter fans from both U.S. and foreign destinations have converged for fun, frolic, fantasy and fandom for four days, July 10-13. I was amazed at the organization and the massiveness of the conference – guest speakers, panelists, keynote lecturers, vendor tables, an art gallery, banquets, Quidditch games, Wizard Rock bands, Potter movies, banquets, teas, dessert minglers and even a podcast. My head is spinning at the offerings and the choices available for any given time slot. The efforts of the staff of HPEF is awe-inspiring. Their task was not a small one. They have succeeded in their efforts!

Last evening I had the pleasure of listening to two Wizard Rock bands – Moaning Myrtles and Mud Bloods. The crowd was enthusiastic and sang along with the songs. The groups were interacting with the audience and smiles and cheers abounded when their sets were done. Each and every evening of the conference.hosts different Wizard Rock bands, the last evening culminating in a concert with all of them.

On a more literary note, I have witnessed guest speakers who have delved into the Potter books with deep analysis and thought and have perfected their methods of presenting detailed presentations……

Edmund M. Kern, the author of “The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Author Teaches us About Moral Choices”, holds a PHD in Early Modern European History and is currently chair of the Department of History at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. His discussion was entitled Harry Potter’s Post Modern Popularity and indicated that “Harry is a victim of fate”. Dr. Kern indicated that rules are broken in the life of Potter and his friends when circumstances dictate that they must be in order for evil to be defeated in the long run.

Dr. Henry Jenkins is the head of MIT Comparative Media Studies Program, is author of 12 books and hosts his own official web blog entitled “Confessions of an Aca-Fan” at henryjenkins.org. He presented the keynote luncheon on July 11 which brought forth the mass phenomenon of the Harry Potter books and movies and their effect on media and society. Dr Jenkins indicated that “everyone can find a space for their imagination” regarding the Potter books. He also spoke about “immersion” and giving oneself over to a fantasy world. Media has taken ahold of the Potter fandom and perhaps taken it places which author J.R. Rowling never meant it to go.

Webmaster of HogsHead.org (formerly Sword of Gryffindor), Travis Prinzi, gave an enthralling talk entitled “Christ in the Forest: Aslan and Harry Walk to Their Deaths” in which he presented a correlation of authors Rowling, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. He presented the similarities of their works and main characters (Harry, Frodo and Aslan) and how they fulfilled their role as a Christ figure in their defeat of death and evil. Look for Travis new book, soon to be released by Zossima Press.

Other panelists presented an opportunity for the audience to discuss various topics including the roundtable by David Gras entitled “Harry Potter: A Bridge Between Two Worldviews”. Mr. Gras led an interested audience in a discussion on whether Rowling, like C.S. Lewis brings the message of the Christian gospel through the world of Harry Potter by bringing forth the Christian symbolism used within Harry’s journey.

All work and no play make Harry a dull boy so it’s off to the podcast with webmasters from Mugglenet, HP Prognosticationsm, Snapecast and more – and then later to the Quidditch matches!

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